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17 June 2020
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Story Dr WP Wahl
The Division of Student Affairs (DSA) prioritises innovation to meet the challenges of food insecurity and malnutrition among students. To this end, several student volunteers and student governance structures are collaborating with the DSA on various initiatives.
During 2019, various conversations were held about the possibility of creating a health-promoting food environment at the UFS where students and staff are well informed and empowered to take appropriate action regarding their food and nutritional needs. These conversations resulted in an institutional strategy to address the food environment at the UFS. Student representatives serve on a technical committee that directs the implementation of this strategy. In this regard, several initiatives have already been launched.
Students from residences and other student communities have planted vegetable gardens on the Bloemfontein Campus with the assistance of KovsieACT and the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. Students and staff are already harvesting and distributing vegetables to needy students every week. Measurements were put in place to continue this during the COVID-19 period. The following vegetables were planted: spinach, cabbage, beetroot, broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots.
Food parcels, donated by Tiger Brands and Gift of the Givers, are continuously handed out by DSA staff and student volunteers. In this regard, 540 food parcels have already been handed out on the Bloemfontein Campus during the COVID-19 period alone. During the same time, 117 students received food parcels on the Qwaqwa Campus. The innovation of this food parcel project rests on the fact that business, NPOs, UFS students, and DSA staff are collaborating to address food insecurity and malnutrition.
More collaborative initiatives will be implemented over the next 12 months. The DSA staff and students are already working with the Department of Dietetics and Consumer Sciences to create information packages about the preparation of low-budget nutritious meals.
Related article:
Vegetable tunnels established to continue the fight against food insecurity
New Zealand High Commissioner visits the UFS
2009-11-06
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The New Zealand High Commissioner to South Africa, Namibia and Mozambique, Mr. Geoff Randal, recently visited the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Centre for Africa Studies (CAS) and presented a seminar on “New Zealand and Africa: Asymmetry writ large”.
His talk considered relations between New Zealand and Africa, exploring what looks like a massive asymmetry. He concluded that difference wais normal and not in itself a barrier to effective collaboration. In his view, diplomacy is an important tool to obtain balance by continuous adjustment and through dialogue across perceived asymmetry. Through diplomacy as the connector, facilitator and coordinator, perceptions are shaped and can small states can make a stand against the powerful. Attending the seminar were, from the left: Mr. Arthur Johnson, Manager: International Partnerships and Liaison at the UFS); Prof. Heidi Hudson, Programme Director: CAS; Mr Geoff Randal, New Zealand High Commissioner to South Africa – speaker; Ms. Kamo Dipico, Administrative Officer: CAS; Ms Steffi Cawood, Lecturer: CAS, and Ms. Siti Dipico, Research Assistant: CAS.
Photo: Mangaliso Radebe |